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Game Day Halftime Snack Board

By the time halftime rolls around on game day, it'll be time for more snacking, so bring it on with this elaborate and delicious snack board! With some planning in advance, you can put out a really interesting and tasty selection of snacks.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings 12 people

Equipment

  • 1 Whisk
  • 1 Baking Sheet
  • 1 Medium Skillet
  • 1 Cocktail Shaker
  • 1 Large Serving Board

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 4 teaspoons dry mustard powder such as Colman's®
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon steak sauce
  • 1 teaspoon half-and-half
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon sriracha sauce
  • salt to taste
  • 12 puff pastry shells such as Pepperidge Farm®
  • 2 tablespoons butter divided
  • 12 ounces bay scallops
  • ⅓ cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot
  • ½ cup half-and-half
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons dry white wine
  • 1 tablespoon dry sherry
  • ½ teaspoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • 4 fluid ounces gin
  • 2 fluid ounces sweet vermouth
  • 2 teaspoons maraschino cherry juice
  • 2 dashes orange bitters
  • 4 maraschino cherries
  • 1 bunch red grapes
  • 1 pound cooked shrimp
  • 1 lemon cut into wedges
  • 4 ounces goat cheese softened
  • ½ cup hot red pepper jelly
  • 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 24 large ridged potato chips (such as Ruffles®)
  • 24 thin slices jalapeno pepper Optional

Instructions
 

  • Whisk mayonnaise, dry mustard, Worcestershire sauce, steak sauce, half-and-half, lemon juice, sriracha, and salt together in a serving bowl until smooth and creamy. Cover and refrigerate.
  • Preheat the oven to 380 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place pastry shells on a baking sheet.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Allow shells to cool completely.
  • Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat. Add scallops and saute quickly on both sides until browned, 3 to 5 minutes; do not overcook. Remove from skillet and set aside. Reduce heat to medium and melt remaining butter in the skillet. Add mushrooms and shallots and cook until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Whisk half-and-half and flour together in a bowl and add to the skillet with the mushroom mixture, whisking until smooth and thickened, about 5 minutes. Whisk wine, sherry, lemon juice, and mustard into the cream sauce. Stir in Parmesan cheese, tarragon, and black pepper. Add cooked scallops, stir, and reheat briefly, 1 to 3 minutes.
  • Cut tops off the pastry shells. Fill with cheesy scallops and place at the bottom of a large horizontal board.
  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add gin, vermouth, cherry juice, and bitters. Shake well and strain into 4 shot glasses. Add a cherry to each glass. Position quarterback attack shooters diagonally at the upper left of the board. Place grapes in both the upper and lower left corners of the board.
  • Place the bowl of creamy mustard dipping sauce on the right side of the board and surround with shrimp and lemon wedges.
  • Spread about 1/2 tablespoon of goat cheese onto each potato chip, being careful not to break the chips. Add about 1 teaspoon of red pepper jelly to each chip and top with crumbled bacon and a jalapeno slice. Place hot pepper jelly chips above and to the left of the puff pastry shells, filling in any empty space.

Notes

Puff Pastry: Ensure pastry shells are fully thawed but kept cold before baking for optimal rise and flakiness. Bake until deep golden brown for structural integrity, then cool completely to prevent sogginess when filled.Scallops: Pat bay scallops thoroughly dry before searing to achieve beautiful caramelization without steaming. Cook quickly over medium-high heat, 3-5 minutes total, to keep them tender and prevent a rubbery texture.Sauce Consistency: Whisk flour and half-and-half thoroughly *before* adding to the skillet to prevent lumps, ensuring a smooth, velvety cream sauce.Board Presentation: For maximum visual impact, consider the arrangement of colors and textures on your board. Place taller items towards the back and fan out items like shrimp and chips for an inviting, abundant display.